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Trump Administration To Unveil Middle East Peace Plan; Trump Lawyers: He Did Absolutely Nothing Wrong; 57.2 Million People Under Lockdown In China; Palestinians Broke Off Relations With U.S. In 2017; CNN Goes On The Road With Cuba's New President. Aired 10-11a ET

Aired January 26, 2020 - 10:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

[10:00:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BECKY ANDRSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR: Tonight, Israel's leaders can't seem to get to the White House fast enough. We'll tell you why in a moment.

And we're in China as 1,000 new cases of the virus are expected. Plus, keeping it casual as CNN takes you on a red tour of Cuba with it's very

relaxed new president. And biblical scenes in East Africa as billions of locusts descend like a plague.

Welcome to the show. In just a few days, we will get our first look at the American plan to end one of the most enduring and difficult conflicts in

geopolitics. The Trump administration will show the world it's much wanted Middle East peace plan. Well, ahead of the unveiling, Israel's top two

political leaders are in a mad dash to be first to get a sit down with President Donald Trump.

Opposition leader Benny Gantz has a meeting with the President in Washington on Monday to discuss it. Upon learning that, Israeli Prime

Minister Benjamin Netanyahu moved his meeting with Mr. Trump from Tuesday to Monday, and he seems pretty excited about it.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BENJAMIN NETANYAHU, PRIME MINISTER OF ISRAEL (through translator): We're in the midst of very dramatic diplomatic events, but the climax is still ahead

of us. In a short while, I'll leave for Washington to meet my friend, the President of the United States, Donald Trump, who will present his legal of

the century. I think that an opportunity such as this comes once in history and cannot be missed.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: Now, there's a very different reaction from the Palestinian Authority, which is dismissing the plan saying, any outline from a Trump

administration would be pro-Israel. The Palestinians haven't had relations with the White House or the State Department for some two years ever since

Mr. Trump recognized Jerusalem as Israel's capital.

There have been other policy reversals at the expense of the Palestinians too, but there have also been U.S. efforts to re-establish contacts. That's

according to two close -- sources close to the Palestinian leader, Mahmoud Abbas. He tells CNN the White House reached out recently to Mr. Abbas via a

third party and offer for him to speak with President Trump was reportedly rebuffed.

Let's get some perspective on all of this. My colleague, Sam Kiley, a veteran of Middle East politics, has covered the region extensively over

the past couple of decades. He's here with me in Abu Dhabi. First though, let's bring in Oren Liebermann who is in Jerusalem for us. And aside from

touting this plan is a "fresh approach to peace," the Trump administration, Oren, it has been loath to discuss the details. What, if anything, do we

know at this point?

OREN LIEBERMANN, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, there have been very, very few details leaked about what's inside the deal of the century

as it's known, the Trump administration's long-awaited much hype peace plan. But even without those details, it's fully expected that this will be

the most pro-Israel peace plan or peace approach that essentially we've ever seen in the attempts to negotiate some sort of end to the conflict

here.

And that's based on A, the actions of the Trump administration and its peace team, and B, the statements made by the principal actors here, the

peace team itself, not only for Israel, but against the Palestinians. It's very likely to take all of the Israelis boxes and then some, and few if any

of the Palestinians' boxes. Of course, we'll also be watching for regional reactions as well as reaction -- as well as reactions from Europe.

At this point, now both Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the leader of Blue and White, his rival Benny Gantz are on their way to Washington for

those meetings on Monday. And those are essentially big meetings here. Both of these leaders calling it a historic opportunity to meet with a great

friend of Israel, that in President Donald Trump, and we'll certainly look to see what comes out of these meetings and when the plan itself is

released.

Gantz was debating whether to go back and forth. And there was a great debate here among analysts and those watching the conflict and the politics

here about whether he should go. In the end, he announced last night that he would be going after he received a personal invitation from Trump.

They're expected to meet tomorrow morning.

Essentially the moment it was announced that Gus had a meeting with President Donald Trump on Monday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu

announced he too would be meeting him on Monday as well, in addition to the pre-scheduled meeting on Tuesday.

So both of these leaders trying to get their face time with Trump and trying to show the Israeli public here in a very difficult re-election

campaign for Netanyahu especially that they are the ones best able to handle the peace plan and best able to handle Trump. So as much as this is

about a peace plan, it is very much also about domestic politics here.

ANDERSON: Isn't it just -- Sam, the viability of this plan in doubt certainly by Donald Trump's detractors, since there has been little to no

input from the Palestinians who quite frankly have rejected it before it's released. What do you make of all of this?

[10:05:05]

SAM KILEY, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: What's been very fascinating when I was recently -- relatively recently on the West Bank,

that people were asking me what they thought the peace plan might deliver. But if you look at the general drift of Israeli politics, in terms of both

Mr. Gantz and Netanyahu saying that they would unilaterally effectively seize the Jordan Valley in the complicated alphabet soup of the Middle East

peace process area -- an area called Area C, which actually also separates up most of the other Palestinian areas, if there's going to be a grab or an

offer of Area C on behalf of the Israelis as part of this peace process, it will be rejected out of hand by the Palestinians.

This I think, ultimately, is not going to surprise anybody in the Palestinian camp. I think absolutely key in terms of all this is what do

they do next? Their economy is no longer underpinned with American money, it's mostly European money. The Europeans have been saying a bit back but

four or five years ago when the peace process was nowhere near was more abundant than it is now, that they were disinclined to underwrite what some

of them are even calling apartheid.

If it comes to it, and this is a process that collapses completely, will the Palestinians fold themselves up as the Palestinian authority? Will they

throw it back to the Israelis and say OK, you occupiers back to pre-Oslo situation, and will the Europeans then want to pay for that occupation?

It's very unclear though in conversations with Palestinian leadership whether they really inclined to go for that kind of DEF CON 3 moment.

ANDERSON: Oren made the point that -- and I'm paraphrasing here, and I'll get back to him on this, but he said, to a certain extent, this is much

about politics as it is about peace. Do you agree?

KILEY: Absolutely. I mean, Oren is a world expert on this. But you know, the great line he came out with there was ticks the Israeli boxes and then

some. From the Trump administration's perspective, and I've spoken to senior elements within it, it has been clear for months that if it's not

BB, then it's Benny.

And the reason for that is that they're pretty much in lockstep in terms of what they think -- what the Trump administration thinks the future for

Israel isn't the future for the Palestinians are. There is not a schism there.

So really, that is why they're both racing there, because there's all about how this gets reflected back into Israel.

ANDERSON: Into Israel. Ahead of what our elections, Oren, at the beginning of March, how is this playing out locally?

LIEBERMANN: Right now, this is perceived as being all about the timing here and a move by the Trump administration to help out Netanyahu and try to get

him over the line, to help him win this election. We saw a lot of those kinds of moves before the April election when it comes to the Golan

Heights, when it comes to a number of other measures there, fewer before the September election, and almost looked like the Trump administration was

backing away from Netanyahu. And now it appears they're once again all in on Netanyahu.

The timing, and why do I stress the timing here, not only is it impeachment hearings in Washington and the release of the plan will certainly be a

distraction from that. But in the middle of a tough reelection campaign, Netanyahu faces indictment in three separate corruption cases. This again

distracts from that.

The election here is no longer about the indictments, it's not a referendum on Netanyahu, or at least not only a referendum on Netanyahu. There's now a

peace plan issue on the table and perhaps even a question of did the U.S. just give the -- does the U.S. give Israel the green light to unilaterally

annex parts of the West Bank, and how does that play out here? And all of that is viewed as being an effort by the Trump administration to help out

Netanyahu here.

The question is does it change any votes? We're in the third election in 12 months, and there is a very real possibility that that answer is no. In

which case, we may still be looking at Israel's political deadlock. But I'll stress this again. One of the questions here is key given that we're

certain to see Palestinian rejection of the plan. Does this end up a green light from the Trump administration to allow Israel to annex parts of the

West Bank? And if so, does the Israeli government tried to do that in the state it's in now, pre-election, a certain transition with government with

the Prime Minister facing indictment?

ANDERSON: Last word.

KILEY: I think that's absolutely key. And I think that this is an opportunity to be seized by an opportunity. If the Palestinians are seen as

rejection is for the Israelis to unilaterally go for it as Netanyahu -- sorry, as Oren just observed, but at the same time, this really does put

the Europeans on the spot, they're suddenly going to matter, and for that, in that context, the Russians too. This could be the moment really when

American influence is completely spent among the Palestinians and the Arab supporters.

ANDERSON: And it's -- it's a narrative that I want to pursue with Martin Indyk who will join us a little later during CONNECT THE WORLD. Thank you,

sir. Oren, thank you. So without buying from the Palestinians, is the deal on arrival? That's certainly one question out there. Next hour, we're going

to ask Palestinian negotiator, Saeb Erekat. He calls Mr. Trump's proposal hoax and the fraud of the century.

[10:10:25]

So we've just been looking at Mr. Trump's self-dubbed deal of the century, and that's coming, remember, just days after he signed phase one of a new

mega trade deal with China. All the while, back in DC, he is fighting to keep his job. Politics isn't easy, right?

Well, in just 24 hours, the president's lawyers will be back on the Senate floor giving their version of the impeachment saga, defending their boss.

They got going Saturday and went for just two hours short and sweet in comparison to the Democrats' strategy. It let senators get on with their

weekends early and get back to their families, whereas the Democrats went on in a single session for some 12 hours. Here's the central pitch from the

President's defense team.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PAT CIPOLLONE, WHITE HOUSE COUNSEL: The President did absolutely nothing wrong.

MICHAEL PURPURA, DEPUTY WHITE HOUSE COUNSEL: The President did absolutely nothing wrong.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: Well, the Democrats responded saying, Trump's lawyers actually helped the make a case for witnesses in the impeachment trial. The big

question now, are they right? Well, my next guest Democratic Senator Tina Smith attended the session on Saturday. You can see him standing next to

Senate Leader Chuck Schumer just here -- just afterwards, and she joins me now from Washington.

And thank you for joining us. What did you make of team Trump's remarks in what was just over two hours Saturday?

SEN. TINA SMITH (D-MN): Well, thank you and it's great to be with you this morning. It was about a two-hour session and it was I think in stark

contrast to the presentation that was put forward by the House managers. In about three days, they presented a very thorough and I think compelling set

of evidence and information about the two articles of impeachment, including abuse of power and obstruction of Congress.

The President's lawyers' approach was basically to say, one, the House went on too long. It was -- it was long, and then this presumption that the

President has done nothing wrong. And they started to present some information, but it was really more assertions of facts. They didn't do

anything particularly to undermine the House case.

And many of us left the floor thinking that they actually strengthen the case for why we should have witnesses because if they say that there has

been no direct -- nobody who spoke directly with the President about this, then wouldn't the Senate want to hear from those people and clear up any

questions about what actually happened?

ANDERSON: I think our viewers will be really interested just before we move on to get from your sense of the atmosphere in this room. We've been

calling this historic and rightly so. What's the atmosphere like on the floor?

SMITH: Well, when we first started and the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court walked onto the Senate floor, I think there was a sense of

weightiness. There was a sense of history that rested on all of our shoulders. And now we have had several days of being in the room. And, you

know, I really believe that almost all of my colleagues are taking this very seriously.

From where I sit on the Senate floor, I can see pretty much all of my Republican colleagues and I can see them listening, taking notes. You know,

there's been a lot made about how people get up and move around from time to time. But for anybody, it's hard to sit in your chair for 12 hours

straight, so I don't think that that's a sign that people aren't paying attention.

I watch colleagues that are looking directly at the House managers and now the President's managers, the president's lawyers, and really taking it

seriously. So it feels quite serious to me.

ANDERSON: Feels quite serious. Is it series enough for the parties and politics to be left aside to turn any of these Republican senators at this

point briefly?

SMITH: Well, that remains to be seen. And the next question fundamentally will be, are there four Republican senators who say, yes, this needs to be

a fair trial? Yes, we do need to hear for witnesses, we do need these documents. And I think that that is what everybody is wondering about. I

don't have a -- I can't see into the hearts and minds of my colleagues, but I know that many of them are really mulling over that question very, very

carefully.

ANDERSON: Let's hear from Mr. Trump's defense, then trying to undercut the Democrats' case. Senator, have a listen to this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CIPOLLONE: They're asking you to remove President Trump from the ballot in an election that's occurring in approximately nine months. They're asking

you to tear up all of the ballots across this country.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

[10:15:02]

ANDERSON: The President's team argues he has every right to set foreign policies. He wants legitimate concerns about Ukrainian corruption when he

suspended that now-infamous military aid, which by the way he has done elsewhere, they argue, and he was they say protecting presidential

prerogatives when he blocked witnesses and documents.

Senator, Trump's team insists this is the democrats trying to spoil the ballot in the 2020 Election. Your response?

SMITH: Well, I would say that that question is really doesn't get to the facts of what it is that we are discussing here in this trial of

impeachment. The House managers put forth a case that the President used his political power. He abused his -- the authority of his office in order

to get a foreign country, Ukraine, to interfere in our elections. And they further made the argument that that continues to be a clear and present

danger.

And you can hear the President himself calling on China recently to interfere in our elections, saying that he would welcome getting

interference from other countries in our elections. He would -- he would take that information if he got it. So I think it is up to the President's

lawyers to refute that case. And that is not what they've done so far.

I hope that they will take this seriously tomorrow when we go back into trial, and we hear them try to address the points that we are dealing with

in this case.

ANDERSON: And we have got lightly two more days of the defense before this gets to open questions on the floor and open debate, as it were. Senator,

how concerned are you as a Democrat that impeachment will do nothing if not embolden Donald Trump and his 2020 campaign?

SMITH: Well, if we were to acquit the president, then he could certainly get the message that he could continue to do what he has been doing. But

what I go back to is that 70 percent of Americans believe that we need a fair trial and that a fair trial includes witnesses. 70 percent of

Americans want to see witnesses on the -- for this trial. And that, I hope, will be in the minds of my colleagues as we make some important decisions

in the days ahead.

ANDERSON: President Trump tweeting this morning on his lawyers' presentations saying the following. "The impeachment hoax is a massive

election interference. The likes of which has never been seen before. In just two hours the Radical Left, Do Nothing Democrats have seen their phony

case absolutely shredded. Shifty -- that's his nickname for Adam Schiff, of course, the Chairman of the Intelligence Committee, is now exposed for

illegally making up my phone call and more," attacking his favorite target their Chairman Adam Schiff.

I just want to us move on. Very briefly, Bernie Sanders, leading the race for the Democratic nomination in New Hampshire according to a new CNN poll,

while Amy Klobuchar, a senator from your very own state of Minnesota is in fifth place. We are as we move through this impeachment process moving into

with earnest, the political campaigning for the 2020 election. Will you be endorsing Miss Klobuchar?

SMITH: I have endorsed Amy Klobuchar. She and I have been friends and colleagues for over 20 years. And Amy is a wonderful combination of

progressive but also pragmatic. And she's also demonstrated how you can win with that kind of a platform in red counties, and blue counties, really

everywhere in Minnesota.

And so I think that this election is completely up for grabs. There's lots and lots of polls out there. But who knows what's going to happen. This

election belongs to the voters of America and they have not even begun to speak about it yet.

ANDERSON: How can -- how confident are you that Minnesota will be a blue state come November 4th?

SMITH: Well, you know, don't take anything for granted. The President has committed to spending $30 million in Minnesota to win which is a lot of

money, and he nearly won Minnesota in 2016. So we're anticipating a competitive race.

ANDERSON: With that, we thank you.

SMITH: Thank you.'

ANDERSON: Facing 1,000 new cases of a deadly disease, China going all-in on its response building two new hospitals, two new hospitals from scratch in

days. Plus, Not an army uniform insight. Cuba's new president looking very relaxed as he takes CNN on a rare tour of his country and gives us a look

at how he sees the future battle, coming up after this.

[10:20:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ANDERSON: The big story on the deadly Wuhan coronavirus this hour, China putting some 57 million people, a population nearly the size of the UK into

lockdown in just a matter of days. Now, this all started in a live animal market in Wuhan in China where this mysterious pneumonia virus is using our

global travel network to cross oceans spreading through Southeast Asia, down to Australia, across to Europe, and to the United States. Now, Chinese

officials say people can spread it even before they have symptoms.

Well, these 15 cities in channel who follow partial lockdown are considered small by Chinese standards, but Wuhan alone is bigger than New York City or

London. The mayor expects confirmed cases there to rise by another thousand. Xiaogan with five million people, about the size of Abu Dhabi and

Dubai put together.

Well, advisors to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have been frustrated with the lack of information coming from Beijing about how

this virus is spreading. But even for people living in the cities on lockdown, information is reportedly very hard to come by. As you'd expect

we can connect you to Beijing right here. CNN's David Culver is in the capital for you.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DAVID CULVER, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Chinese President Xi Jinping ordering local leaders to stop the spread of the deadly coronavirus,

calling it a grave situation that China is facing right now. The health officials seem to be responding. Sunday, they announced some extraordinary

containment efforts. Those efforts include sending some 1,600 medical personnel into Hubei province towards the epicenter of this virus. They

also have already on the ground some 1,300 military and civilian medical personnel.

Now, President Xi has also as that medical staff are protected and that supplies gets to those who need it. We have been telling you about some of

the dire situations that folks are in there. Health care workers telling us that it feels as though they're going into battle without any armor.

They're lacking hazmat suits, lacking goggles, lacking protective facemask.

Well, the health officials on Sunday here in China announcing that they plan to step up production immediately up some of those hazmat suits. They

say they need an estimated 100,000 hazmat suits each day. Currently, production is only at 13,000. So they're bringing in workers in the midst

of this spring festival holiday to start up production once again.

Meantime, this as tens of millions of people find themselves in what seems to be a widening lockdown zone. And the folks there are describing a very

difficult situation of uncertainty and unease.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DIANA ADAMA, U.S. CITIZEN LIVING IN WUHAN: I woke up feeling quite desperate, sad, angry. Most of this is because of lack of information and

lack of knowing what's going on. My mother is worried about me. I love her. She's 88 years old. My sister let her know the things I'm doing here. And I

don't want her to worry more and I'd like to see her.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

[10:25:16]

CULVER: U.S. officials estimate they're about 1,000 U.S. citizens within the city of Wuhan. And according to the U.S. Embassy of China's Web site,

they plan to charter a plane essentially on Tuesday that would take citizens out of Wuhan to San Francisco. Now, citizens have to apply for

spots on that aircraft because seats are limited. Because not only the U.S. that's trying to get its citizens out of that zone, in fact to the U.K.,

France, Japan, Korea, Jordan, all making similar attempts to ease the burden of those who are within that lockdown zone. David Culver, Beijing.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ANDERSON: David, of course, was in Wuhan earlier last week. Back in Beijing at this point, but has a real sense of what is going on the ground there.

Let's get a medical look at this. Longtime advisor to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, you all probably heard of it as the CDC.

Dr. William Schaffner joining us now.

And Dr. Schaffner, the Chinese announcement that the virus can be spread even before symptoms appear, you say is a game-changer. How so?

WILLIAM SCHAFFNER, DIVISION OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES, VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER: It's a game -- it's a game-changer, Becky, because that

means that transmission, the contagiousness of the patient is so much more evident. There's a longer period of time where that person can spread the

disease. And if they can spread the disease four days before they become sick, then just quarantining those sick people is not a sufficient

strategy.

Actually, this is a way the virus would love to spread from person to person, if normal, healthy people can spread the virus before they become

sick.

ANDERSON: How concerned are you about what we've just learned in the last hour or so that authorities locally to where this virus it seems began in

Wuhan is suggesting that as many as 1,000 more cases are likely to have been or to be revealed very shortly?

SCHAFFNER: Well, obviously, the number of known cases and suspected cases is growing very, very rapidly. And we would anticipate that if this is a

now more contagious virus than we thought even yesterday, and the day before. So spread can be really very, very rapid through close intimate

contact with someone else before you become ill.

ANDERSON: The response to this coronavirus, sir, has been massive. I just want to viewers to get to see these images again, and I'm sure you've seen

them yourself, two brand new hospitals going up in record time. That as cities across the country go on lockdown and banning the sale of wild

animals at these local markets How do you rate this response, sir?

SCHAFFNER: Well, this is a brand new problem. And we're learning more about it as it grows. The response has been enormous. On the scientific side, the

Chinese investigators have identified the virus and spread that information around the world so that all the scientists around the world can start

working on a vaccine, for example. We already have a rapid diagnostic test. That's very important.

Now getting treatment into those folks and really determining the epidemiologic aspects of this virus, when does it become contagious, how

contagious is it, how likely is it to spread to other people, doing those kinds of investigations in a circumstance like this is really chaotic and

very difficult. The CDC has advisors in place, working with the Chinese Ministry of Health.

ANDERSON: And I will, sir, have a spokesperson from the WHO, the World Health Organization on in the next hour. The WHO have not declared a public

health emergency. Should they at this point?

SCHAFFNER: Well, I would anticipate, my crystal ball says the next time the WHO committee meets, I think it is likely that they will declare this a

public health emergency of international concern.

ANDERSON: And with that, we'll leave it there. We thank you very much indeed for joining us. Your insight is extremely valuable to the key

takeaway.

SCHAFFNER: Thank you so much.

[10:30:00]

ANDERSON: And you should be concerned about this new virus? Yes, absolutely you should. You should be taking precautions, you should not be panicking.

Let me give you some context here to help you see why the MERS virus, you'll remember that as camel flu -- is probably how you remember. It

killed more than one in three people who contracted it.

And remember SARS as well. Well, that had the death rate of about one in 10. Whereas, so far, at least, this Wuhan strain is tracking at about a

three percent mortality rate, far closer to the average rate of flu in general.

Do stay with CNN. Of course, we will continue to update you on exactly what is going on with regard to this virus.

Still to come, a plan for peace in the Middle East. To Jared Kushner's long-awaited proposal, finally, apparently, set to be unveiled. Why my next

guest says the U.S. should set aside its ambitions for the Middle East region. That, after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Iran appears to be standing down, which is a good thing for all parties concerned and a very good thing

for the world.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: President Trump, cooling down tensions with Iran. Just a couple of weeks ago, 2020 beginning with fears of war. Well, now, President

Trump's attention back on this roiling region of the Middle East, but this time with the purpose of peace, we are told.

Spearheaded by president -- the president's senior advisor and son-in-law Jared Kushner, Mr. Trump set to unveil the much-vaunted Middle East peace

plan in the next couple of days.

[10:35:07]

ANDERSON: We've already seen the economic portion of the plan. But see political, intractable issues, including the matter of Palestinian

statehood that are yet to be revealed.

All this coming to ahead as Israel heads into its third election within a year. Both Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and opposition leader Benny

Gantz are currently racing across the Atlantic to the White House to get some quality time with the U.S. president.

Meantime, the U.S. and the Palestinians have not had any formal contact for two years.

Well, my next guest says the U.S. needs a "sustainable Middle East strategy based on a more realistic assessment of its interests." Adding that it's

time to eschew never-ending wars and grandiose objectives.

In a recent essay, Martin Indyk suggested the Middle East, well, is it worth it anymore to the U.S.? It was the U.S. special envoy for Israeli-

Palestinian negotiations under Barack Obama. Also serving as the U.S. ambassador to Israel under President Clinton. And he is probably forgotten

more about Middle East peace plans and we will ever know. Joining me now from Tel Aviv

So, a fresh approach that is what we are or have been promised. But with no real detail to boot, we are left wondering what on earth is in this great

deal of the century? Can you enlighten us anymore?

MARTIN INDYK, FORMER UNITED STATES SPECIAL ENVOY FOR ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN NEGOTIATIONS: Well, it's certainly going to be a fresh approach, because I

think it will be a major departure from the U.S. policy positions adopted since 1967.

There's been a consistency through every administration that leads to the exchange of territory for peace based on the 1967 lines, which predated the

war, the -- during '67 war with minor border rectifications. That's basically being the underpinning of the U.S. approach.

When the Palestinian issue came along and had to be addressed, then, the United States supported a two-state solution to the Palestinian problem,

with an independent Palestinian state, with its capital in east Jerusalem, and again, the state based on the 67 lines, with mutually agreed swaps to

make up for the differences that Israel would, presumably a next, some of the territory where the settlements are based in blocks along the 67

borders and would give Israeli territory in return. So, that's been the basic premise up to now.

I think, in the Trump peace plan, which we should bear in mind has been developed without any consultation with the Palestinian authority. There's

been no communication with them of the PLO in two years.

Has essentially been developed together with Prime Minister Netanyahu to meet most of Israel's basic requirements, and shift the parameters of the

two states solution fairly dramatically in Israel's favor.

So, I think what we're going to see on territory, for instance, is as opposed to the 95 percent of the West Bank with five percent of land swaps

that has been the traditional U.S. position going back to President Clinton and his parameters, I think we're likely to see something like 80 percent

of the West Bank.

The Palestinians has now controlled 40 percent, so, it would be an enhancement of their position. But would fall far short of their

expectations.

ANDERSON: Right. So, you made a very good point. You've made it clear, you know, you can't have a serious discussion about Israeli-Palestinian peace,

and only invite one side to come, talk about it.

The U.S. will say, well, that's not awful. And it was the Palestinians who close the door on us back when we opened our embassy in Jerusalem. And it

could the -- could the shoot the Palestinians have done more before we got to this point.

INDYK: Well, I think that, that the administration drove the Palestinians away from the table by the Jerusalem decision that you refer to. There was

nothing in that decision for the Palestinians. It would have been relatively easy for President Trump in announcing that he was recognizing

Jerusalem as Israel's capital to say at the same time, I also recognize that the Palestinians aspired to have their capital in east Jerusalem.

[10:40:04]

INDYK: But he didn't say anything like that. And indeed, as I understand that the plan will give very limited short shrift to Palestinian claims in

Jerusalem. At most, it will be out of suburbs and a refugee camp. And everything west of the -- of the security barrier and wall that Israel's

built, will be granted as it were, in this proposal to Israel and the Israeli sovereignty, which the Palestinians cannot accept.

(CROSSTALK)

ANDERSON: Which will --

INDYK: The question now, Becky, if I might suggest is --

(CROSSTALK)

ANDERSON: OK, that will be unacceptable to the Palestinians, of course.

INDYK: Right. But the question is not whether they could have done more. I mean, then, Trump punish them and cut (INAUDIBLE). So, question is how, how

do they relate to this now? Because there's a danger to them that If they rejected out of hand, which I think they're inclined to do -- strongly

inclined to do. That then, Trump will green light Israeli annexation of the territory he's proposing that Israel should have in this deal of the

century.

And so, I think, they need to -- the Palestinians need to be careful about how they respond so that they don't easily fall into the traditional

characterization of the Palestinians always rejecting proposals, always missing an opportunity -- to miss an opportunity.

(CROSSTALK)

ANDERSON: So --

INDYK: I think it's much better if they say, we're ready for negotiations.

(CROSSTALK)

ANDERSON: On the eve -- sure.

Sorry, no, I get you. I get where you going on that point. On the eve of President Trump's inauguration, Martin, he made it clear, when it comes to

foreign policy in the Middle East, Jared Kushner, his son in law and a real estate developer by trade is the only man for the job as far as he is

concerned. Have a listen to this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TRUMP: He is so great. If you can produce peace in the Middle East, nobody can. OK? All my life I've been hearing that's the toughest deal in the

world to make. And I've seen it. But I have a feeling that Jared is going to do a great job. I have a feeling he's going to -- he's going to do a

great job.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: Six years ago, under President Obama, you participated in the last direct Israeli Palestinian negotiations, of course, those talks

collapsed. There are people including his father in law, who will say, Jared Kushner, why not? Why is it that Jared Kushner can provide a solution

to what nobody else has been able to -- where nobody else has been able to succeed?

INDYK: Well, it is a real estate deal at hard. Question of how much territory the Palestinians will get control of is that at the heart of this

issue in the West Bank. And of course, it's critical for Israelis as well, not just for security reasons, but also, because of right-wing believes

that all of the West Bank is the land that God gave to the Jews, the Land of Israel, according to the Old Testament.

So, yes, there -- there's that in Jared Kushner's favor. But he's gone about it with the intention of making peace between Israel and the United

States, not between Israel and the Palestinians.

And indeed, the fact that the plan is being brought out now just five weeks before the Israeli election, in the midst of the Israeli election campaign.

The only justification for that is designed to help Netanyahu win reelection. He could have easily waited for five weeks, so it would have

been wise to do so.

But he had -- he's not waiting. And I think the reason for that is that Netanyahu sees this as an opportunity to present himself as a great

statesman. That's why he's coming to Washington tomorrow to be there with Trump as he outlines the peace plan, and to tell the Israeli public, this

is the opportunity of a lifetime, a historic opportunity. You need me that brought you this plan together with Trump to negotiate and finalize it.

And along the way, to a next Jordan Valley, which he believes that Trump with green light it. As I said if the Palestinians reject the plan as

they're expected to do.

So, it's all about Israeli and American politics, because if Trump can help Netanyahu get reelected, he expects Netanyahu to return the favor until his

evangelical base. That Trump is the greatest thing that has come along for Israel ever.

[10:45:05]

And so, therefore, I mean, you have to be a little cynical about it. As far as Trump declaring Kushner, the man who's going to make peace. We know,

Trump will declare the peace have been made once he announces his plan.

ANDERSON: Right.

INDYK: But the fact that there'll be no Palestinians there on the podium along with him and Netanyahu, makes it very clear to anybody who wants to

sail, that this is not about making peace.

ANDERSON: Martin, it is always a pleasure. Thank you, Martin Indyk, who recently argued that with few vital American interests. Still, at stake,

the U.S. should finally set aside his grandiose ambitions for what is this he described it a chaotic region. Thank you, sir.

Well, America once decried Cuba as being home to a nuclear gun, targeting its busy island's new president just shooting some hoops. CNN got a rare

tour around the island with him. That is ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ANDERSON: Do you think of Cuba, I guess, most of us would probably think that this man, Fidel Castro, you're looking at the firebrand communist

leader giving his first speech to the United Nations lasting some five hours, let me tell you back in the depths of the Cold War.

Fidel Castro, of course, ruled Cuba for decades and passed the baton to his brother. But now there is a new president in town with it seems quite a

different approach.

CNN's Patrick Oppmann, the only U.S. journalist to accompany the new president on a tour recently. Joining us now from what is actually a rather

gorgeous looking Havana there, Patrick.

PATRICK OPPMANN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, good morning from Havana, Becky. And the Cuba is not known as a country that's particularly open to

journalists, not international journalists. But as you mentioned, we have a new president here and he says he's going to be doing things differently up

into a point, and we got a first-hand look at that when he invited CNN to travel with him across the island and speak directly, he says, with the

Cuban people.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

OPPMANN: For years, this is how Cubans were used to seeing their high-level government officials. Men of advanced age, dressed in fatigues, warning of

a possible U.S. invasion. But times may be changing, at least in style, if not substance.

Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel shoots hoops in blue jeans. He tweets and listens to rock and roll. And as the first Cuban head of state in decades

to invite the foreign press to travel the island with him.

Diaz-Canel brings much of his government along, ministers, and top officials, yearning to small cities like here in Sancti Spiritus. He says

to hear from the people directly and cut through Cuba's bloated bureaucracy.

Diaz-Canel was selected by other government officials in 2018, not by direct popular vote. So, doing some old-fashioned politicking is probably a

good idea as increased U.S. sanctions threaten to sink an already struggling economy, and could create unrest.

It's ridiculous how the United States practically every week sanctions Cuba, he tells me.

We are not going to surrender nor dishonor ourselves, nor get on our knees whatever price we have to pay. We have the strength and the support of the

people.

That support has been sorely tested now, though, as U.S. sanctions have led to shortages of fuel, transportation, even gas for cooking. The Trump

administration justifies increased pressure, saying Cuba is a human rights abuser, supports an illegitimate regime in Venezuela, and has an outdated

economic model.

[10:50:06]

OPPMANN: Diaz-Canel, says he is traveling more to see the true state of the country. There's perhaps a little bit of irony that we've seen things being

fixed up for his arrival. Buildings painted, street swept, and bare shelves restocked with hard to find items like chicken and detergent, which

immediately made the long lines.

That's where we find 75-year-old retiree Maura, who says should tell the president life is getting harder.

We're old, we shouldn't have to be in the street, she says. We aren't here by choice, it's out of necessity.

In the early years of the revolution, Fidel Castro traveled widely throughout the island to interact directly with Cubans. As age caught up

with him later his brother and successor, Raul Castro, to visits became less frequent.

With these visits, at least are meant to show in the face of some of the toughest U.S. sanctions Cuba has faced in decades, is that they have a

leader who is calm and in control. It's also the first opportunity that many Cubans have had to see the president who's not named Castro.

Even if he is of a different generation and an unfamiliar face, Diaz-Canel echoes the words of his elders, Fidel Castro, that he will resist the U.S.

and says he does not fear a Trump reelection.

Cuba is ready. For us these situations aren't new, he says. Cuba is ready to confront difficult moments with or without his reelection.

A new face and style, but similar words from the past as Cuba's future remains as perilous as ever.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

OPPMANN: And Becky, you heard Cuban President Diaz-Canel there, talking that -- he's saying he was not concerned about if Donald Trump is

reelected. I have to say talking with Cubans, even some Cuban officials, and they say quite the opposite.

You know, the Obama opening with Cuban has been all the dismantled by President Trump. There are a few countries that the foreign policy depends

as much on the U.S. as Cuba. They're watching very closely this election. They know that the fate of their economy perhaps even the fate of the Cuban

Revolution depends on it, Becky.

ANDERSON: Fascinating. Patrick, thank you. Our man in Havana. It was good to be able to say that. Thank you, sir.

Well, East Africa hasn't seen an invasion like this in decades. Stunning images of the devastation, a life-threatening, locust invasion, affecting

the horn of Africa. That story is up next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[10:54:55]

ANDERSON: I'm going to show you some scenes now that are quite frankly biblical in scale. Apocalyptic Images filling the skies in East Africa as

an unprecedented locust invasion devastates the region, billions.

That is with a B, billions of desert locusts are devouring crops there at incredible rates. In Ethiopia, in Somalia, and in Kenya, that's food. But

quite frankly, as you will understand is food that people need to eat -- millions of people, in fact.

So, when the locusts go through it, there is far less food in an area that's already short of it.

Well, farmers struggling to protect themselves against what is the U.N. says the worst invasion of its kind in decades. Quick swing in the climate

from severe drought to heavy rains help the swarms grow to an out of control size.

On Kenyan government trying to get handle on the situation with crop spraying, but the U.N. warning if it's not brought under control and soon

It could grow 400 times larger over the next few months. And end up becoming a plague spreading further to Uganda and into South Sudan.

Frightening stuff.

I'm Becky Anderson. That was first hour of CONNECT THE WORLD. I'll be back with another hour of news after this short break. Hope you join us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

END